Last month, July 2019, was the hottest month on record—ever—in California and the globe. That might change—the National Weather Service is predicting warmer than average temperatures across most of our region well into September. Higher than average temperatures tend to bring dry conditions, and though we are officially drought-free, the US Drought Monitor is reporting “abnormally dry” conditions in much of our region. The long drought—which ran for 376 weeks—only just ended in March of this year, and it’s not hard to imagine another one happening.

Hot, dry weather tends to be reflected in an uptick in utility bills, and while you can’t make those bills go away entirely, you can reduce them. Luckily, what’s good for your bottom line is also good for the environment: Here are ten things you can do to reduce your energy and water costs—and help save the planet in the bargain.

1. Cool Smarter

Set your thermostat at 78 degrees (or higher) when not home and during peak energy usage hours, between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The savings are impressive, and just setting your thermostat 5 degrees higher can reduce your annual cooling costs by as much as 20 percent. Investing in a smart thermostat is a great idea, and PG&E’s incentive program that could pay as much as $100 just for making the switch. Don’t throw away your old thermostat—it may contain mercury, and it’s illegal to just trash it. Here’s a better option—the Thermostat Recycling Corporation will give you $5 for old thermostats (go to recyclehomethermostats.org/california/ for more information).

2. Fan Out

Using a ceiling fan with air conditioning will enable you to raise your thermostat about 4 degrees to 5 degrees without any loss of comfort. Be sure your fans are rotating in the correct direction—counterclockwise in the summer—and don’t forget to turn ceiling fans off in unoccupied rooms.

3. Seal It Off

Keep windows and doors tightly closed to prevent cooled air from escaping. An easy way to make sure a window is completely sealed is to simply engage the lock. Check for gaps around air vents, windows, doors and exhaust fans, and apply caulk or weather stripping as needed. Windows that receive direct sunlight should have shades or drapes that should be kept closed during the day.

4. Unplug

Many devices pull power even when turned off. Be sure to unplug phone chargers, power strips, and any other equipment around the house when not in use. It may not seem like much, but if you add up the energy drain of all the small devices common to most homes, it can amount to as much power use as a full-sized refrigerator.

5. Limit Appliance Use

Major household appliances require a lot of power, and generate a lot of heat. Try to only use appliances like your oven, dishwasher, washer, and dryer at night, which will both conserve energy during peak hours and keep your house from heating up. Only run your dishwasher and clothes washer when they are full, and use only cold water to launder clothing whenever possible—almost ninety percent of the energy used when doing laundry goes toward heating the water.

6. Check Your Refrigerator Temperature

Many refrigerators are set lower than needed temperatures—which can actually cause food to spoil faster. Setting your fridge to between 35 degrees and 36 degrees not only saves energy, but food as well—and cuts down on the amount of waste your household produces, which is another net win for the environment.

7. Smarter Showers

Though long showers might be tough to give up, showers should last no longer than five to ten minutes and use only lukewarm water. It’s more than enough time to get clean, and the cooler water temperature is better for your skin. Not only will you be saving water, but you’ll also save on the energy needed to heat it.

8. Use LED Light Bulbs

LED bulbs can last an astounding 50,000 hours—five times longer than any Compact Fluorescent Light bulb on the market. Though they used to cost considerably more than CFL bulbs, LED bulbs are much cheaper now—around $10 via online retailers—and the energy savings are significant. LED bulbs use a sixth of the energy of old-fashioned incandescent bulbs and thirty percent less than CFLs—and unlike CFLs, LED bulbs don’t contain mercury, and don’t pose the environmental or safety hazards of CFLs.

9. Faucet Fixes

We know we shouldn’t, but many of us leave the water running while brushing our teeth. Turning it off saves up to 70 gallons of water a month. You’ll also want to check for another water waster: leaky faucets. A single faucet that drips once every ten seconds could be wasting over 200 gallons of water annually—and if it’s a hot water leak, you’ll be out energy costs, as well. For added savings, you can install water-saving aerators in your faucets—which will save about a gallon per minute of use. Many utility companies (including Cal Water) make them available for free to their customers.

10. Lose Your Lawn

Removing turf and replacing it with rock landscaping, succulents, or drought resistant grasses (many of them native to California) can save thousands of gallons of water a year. It’s also much less maintenance, and many people find California-friendly landscaping to be an aesthetic improvement over a traditional lawn. If you need more incentive, turf replacement rebates are available.